Calcium Chloride SDS: GHS Hazards, PPE and Storage

Short answer: calcium chloride (CAS 10043-52-4) is classified in most regulatory listings as a Warning-level eye irritant (GHS07, H319), but a US supplier SDS and Japan’s NITE-CMC listing add harm if swallowed (H302), and the Japanese listing adds serious eye damage and organ effects. Which hazard statements appear on a given safety data sheet depends on the regulatory regime and the supplier, so the SDS for the exact product on your shelf is the document that governs.

This page is general laboratory safety information, summarised from the sources listed at the end. It is not medical advice and does not replace the SDS, your chemical hygiene plan or your institution’s EHS guidance.

What a calcium chloride SDS contains

A safety data sheet follows the 16-section GHS format, and US versions follow the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). For calcium chloride the sections that matter day to day are Section 2 (hazard identification), Section 7 (handling and storage), Section 8 (exposure controls and PPE), Section 10 (stability and reactivity) and Section 13 (disposal). For a walk-through of every section, see how to read a safety data sheet, and for the classification system itself see GHS classification of chemicals.

Calcium chloride hazards: GHS classification compared

The gap in most single-supplier SDS PDFs is that they show one classification and never mention that others exist. Reading several sources side by side shows the same substance classified differently:

Source (read 2026-11-08)	Signal word	Pictograms	Hazard statements
EU CLP (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) and ECHA C&L aggregated notifications, via PubChem	Warning	GHS07	H319 (serious eye irritation). ECHA notes H319 appears in 99.7% of notifications; 12 of 3,505 reports did not meet GHS criteria.
Safe Work Australia HCIS, via PubChem	Warning	GHS07	H319
NITE-CMC (Japan), via PubChem	Danger	GHS05, GHS07, GHS08	H302, H318, H335, H373
Columbus Chemical SDS, anhydrous 20 mesh FCC, US OSHA HazCom format, revised 9 Feb 2024	Warning	GHS07	H302 (harmful if swallowed, acute oral category 4) and H319 (eye irritation category 2)
PhytoTech Labs SDS, anhydrous, revised 23 July 2025	Warning	GHS07	H319 (eye irritation category 2A)

The practical reading: eye irritation (H319) is the common denominator. Whether you also see H302, or the heavier Japanese listing with H318 (serious eye damage), H335 (may cause respiratory irritation) and H373 (may cause organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure), depends on who classified the product and under which scheme. Two SDSs for the same CAS number can both be correct for their own product and jurisdiction.

Precautionary statements on the sources that list them

The Columbus Chemical SDS lists P264 (wash hands thoroughly after handling), P270 (do not eat, drink or smoke when using), P280 (wear protective gloves and eye or face protection), P305+P351+P338 (if in eyes, rinse cautiously with water for several minutes and remove contact lenses if present), P337+P313 (if eye irritation persists, get medical advice), P301+P312 (if swallowed, call a poison centre or doctor if you feel unwell), P330 and P501 (dispose of contents and container in accordance with local regulations). The PhytoTech SDS includes P305+P351+P338. The Columbus SDS gives the first-aid instruction for the eyes as rinsing immediately with plenty of water, including under the eyelids, for at least 15 minutes.

Handling, PPE, storage and incompatibilities

Personal protective equipment

Both readable SDSs call for eye protection and gloves. The Columbus SDS specifies suitable gloves and eye or face protection. The PhytoTech SDS specifies chemical safety glasses or goggles, protective gloves, readily available eye-wash facilities, and a respirator where dust is generated. See eyewash station inspection for keeping that equipment ready.

Storage and moisture

Both SDSs say to keep the container tightly closed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. The PhytoTech SDS states that the product is hygroscopic and lists moisture as a condition to avoid. For lab practice this means the container closure is a stability issue as well as a safety one. For related drying equipment, see laboratory desiccator types and maintenance.

Incompatibilities: “none known” versus a list

The two SDSs disagree here, and the disagreement is informative:

• Columbus Chemical (2024): Section 10 lists incompatible materials as “None known based on information supplied.” NFPA ratings are health 2, flammability 0, instability 0.
• PhytoTech Labs (2025): lists strong acids, borane and boron oxides, zinc, calcium oxide and methyl vinyl ether as incompatible, and notes it is attacked by bromine trifluoride. Hazardous decomposition products are listed as hydrogen chloride gas and chlorine, and hydrogen gas in the presence of zinc and water. The oral LD50 in rat is given as 2,301 mg/kg.

“None known” on one sheet is therefore not evidence that no incompatibilities exist; it reflects what that supplier chose to report. When segregating chemicals, use the most restrictive list available to you. For the broader handling logic of water-sensitive materials, see reactive chemicals: water-reactive and pyrophoric compound handling; calcium chloride is not itself classed with those, but the moisture and zinc notes above are why storage discipline matters.

Disposal

Both SDSs defer to applicable local regulations (the PhytoTech sheet names federal, state and local rules). The Columbus SDS also says not to reuse empty containers. Your EHS office, not the SDS alone, decides the route for a given waste stream.

Checklist: what to confirm on your own calcium chloride SDS

1. Product name and grade match the container (anhydrous, hydrate or solution): the SDS covers a specific product, not the CAS number in general.
2. Revision date in the document, and whether the format matches your jurisdiction (OSHA HazCom, EU CLP, or other).
3. Section 2: signal word and the full hazard statement list, not only H319.
4. Section 8: the PPE the supplier actually names, and whether eyewash access is required.
5. Section 10: the incompatibility list, compared with what is stored nearby.
6. Section 13: disposal wording, then your local EHS procedure.

Common misunderstandings

• “Calcium chloride is not hazardous.” It is not among the most severe laboratory hazards, but every classification above carries at least eye irritation, and one carries more.
• “All calcium chloride SDSs say the same thing.” The table above shows they do not.
• “No incompatibilities listed means none exist.” The sheets differ, as shown.

FAQ

Where do I find a calcium chloride SDS PDF?

Use the supplier of the product you hold. Two openly readable examples: the Columbus Chemical anhydrous 20 mesh FCC SDS and the PhytoTech Labs anhydrous SDS. Fisher Scientific, Thermo Fisher and miniPCR also publish SDSs for their own products.

Is an MSDS the same as an SDS?

MSDS is the older term. The GHS-aligned SDS replaced it, and OSHA’s HazCom standard uses the term safety data sheet.

What are the main calcium chloride hazards in a lab?

Eye irritation is consistent across sources. Some add harm if swallowed (H302), and the Japanese NITE-CMC listing adds H318, H335 and H373. Moisture uptake and the zinc-and-water hydrogen note matter for storage.

Does calcium chloride need an eyewash nearby?

The PhytoTech SDS calls for eye-wash facilities to be readily available; the Columbus SDS gives a 15-minute water rinse for eye contact. Your own risk assessment and institutional rules set the requirement.

Sources

• PubChem, Calcium chloride (CID 5284359), GHS classification section, including EU CLP/ECHA C&L, Safe Work Australia HCIS and NITE-CMC entries: pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Calcium-chloride, read 2026-11-08.
• Columbus Chemical, SDS “Calcium Chloride, Anhydrous 20 Mesh FCC 1009”, revision 9 Feb 2024, read 2026-11-08.
• PhytoTech Labs, SDS “Calcium Chloride, Anhydrous”, revision 23 July 2025, read 2026-11-08.
• OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 (format reference).